Sansan KBC Augusta Rewind: Song ends seven-year winless streak in Japan

Against a star-studded JGTO field at Keya Golf Club last year, South Korea’s Song Young-han became only the third international player to win on Japanese soil at the Sansan KBC Augusta.

With his win, Song also ended his frustrating wait for a second triumph - his last being the SMBC Singapore Open in 2016 where he defeated then-world No. 1, Jordan Spieth of the United States by one shot.

This year, 138 players including six amateurs will be battling for top honours at the  ¥100,000,000 event. Song will begin his title defence by playing alongside Ryo Ishikawa and Yuta Sugiura in the opening round. 

As the 33-year-old South Korean, who already has three top-10 JGTO finishes this season, readies himself for another shot at glory, we look back at the final day drama where Song survived a late hole wobble to win by one.  

Reflections of 2023 final round

Song started the day by sharing the lead with Yusaku Miyazato and Masanori Kobayashi. He pulled ahead of the chasing pack after snaring birdies on the third, fifth, sixth, and eighth holes at the Keya Golf Club.

The South Korean picked up two more shots on the 11th and 13th holes, moving him to 20-under and establishing a five-shot lead at that stage. Although Song dropped his first shot with a bogey at the par-four 16th, it was hardly seen as a threat to his title charge then.

Even though Song held a three-shot advantage as he stepped onto the par-five 18th tee, he would encounter a very late scare where he carded a double-bogey. But crucially, it was still enough for him to win by one shot from second-placed Ryutaro Nagano.

Song carded a three-under-par 69 in the final round for a 17-under-par 271 winning total. 

Song recalled: ”My tee shot went to the right, and the ball landed in a really bad spot. I had a duffed shot once, then laid up. When I checked the score, I realised I had some leeway, so I hit my fourth shot straight on. I might have been nervous. When I was putting, I didn't have much of a feel for it.

"I really did great up until the 15th hole. My mood didn't shift, but in the latter half, the speed of my group slowed down, and it became quite hectic.

“Today, I wanted to play in a way where I don't lose to myself, where I could conquer my own challenges.  I'm happy, but there are still many things to learn from today. I'm glad I won, but it truly was a learning experience."

Nagano advanced one position from his overnight standing, carding six birdies against three bogeys to finish with a 69.

End.